Here is a letter that went home with info about the fall, please read this:

Dear Parent(s) & Student(s),

Can you believe that summer is almost over? We hope you have taken advantage of the gorgeous weather we had this year. Student Ministries has been so blessed with this weather for all of our trips: the high school mission trip to West Virginia, the middle school mission trip to Cran-Hill Ranch, the Cedar Point trip, and the middle school tubing trip. Now we are already flying into fall-get ready!

This fall brings many changes to the Student Ministries program at Calvary. We want to take a moment to fill you in on those changes, both structurally and relationally. Although it may seem that these changes are sudden, they have in fact been pondered and wrestled with for a while.

• Middle school is now only 7^th and 8^th grades. 6^th grade is with the GEMS/Cadets.

• Youth group for 7^th & 8^th grade has been moved to Wednesday nights, from 6:30-8 pm, in the auditorium.

• 7^th & 8^th grade Sunday school is offered at both services, 9 and 10:30 am, in the Lodge. (As well as 4^th-6^th grades.)

• High school Sunday school is offered at 9 am in the Lodge.

• Priority is placed on relationships and communication.

• Sunday school programs begin on September 19.

• High School youth group open house is on Sept. 19 at 6 pm, in the Lodge.

• Middle School youth group open house is on September 22 at 6:30 in the auditorium.

Programming begins Sunday, September 19. The youth group begins with open houses on Sunday, September 19 and Wednesday, September 22. If you have a high school student, you are expected to attend and on the 19^th, from 6-7:30 pm, and if you have a 7^th or 8^th grade student, you are expected attend on the 22^nd from 6:30-8 pm. At the open house you will have the chance to see what your student does at youth group and participate in some fun activities together, as well as meeting the small group leaders for this year.

The Student Ministries team is placing a priority on relationships. Increasing the number of small group leaders in each grade will allow for a smaller adult/student ratio. With fewer students assigned to each adult, that adult will be able to make stronger relationships with students and follow up with them outside of youth group.

Sunday morning will now be 4^th-6^th grades in the Children’s Ministries and 7^th and 8^th grades for the middle school, at both the 9 am and 10:30 am services in the Lodge. Also, the middle school youth group (7^th and 8^th grades) has been moved to Wednesday nights, the same time as GEMS/Cadets (including 6^th grade). One of the benefits of this move is that families with children in elementary and middle school can all attend dinner together and then move on to their events.

If you have questions or would like to discuss this further, please contact Ross (928.1345).

In Him,

Ross Graveling                   Daniel Maat             Cindy Mulder